Split sports jacket

ABSTRACT

A split sports jacket includes a pair of mating right and left jacket halves with dependent sleeves that cover a person&#39;s upper torso and arms. The jacket halves include respective halves of a collar around a neck opening and halves of an elasticized waist band around a waist opening thereof. Respective front and rear zippers retain the jacket halves mated together that extend vertically are laterally centered on the person&#39;s upper torso. The front zipper is of upright configuration that zips up from bottom to top. The rear zipper is of inverted configuration that zips up from top to bottom utilizing gravity to stay closed. Respective front and rear flaps allow covering of the front and rear zippers and are securable by snap fasteners. The jacket halves are interchangeable with other mating jacket halves having differing external visual characteristics to change an overall look of the sports jacket such as colors, patterns, patches, logos, indicia, or emblems. These preferably include affiliations with sports teams, sports players, schools, religions, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The present invention generally relates to sports apparel, and more particularly to sports jackets and other sports apparel worn covering the torso and upper body of a person which includes indicia such as player names, player numbers, team logos, school names, and the like on an outer surface thereof representative of various entities such as sport teams and schools.

2. State of the Art

Sports jackets are designed to cover the upper torso and arms extending downwardly to the waist of a wearer. Sports jackets may be filled with goose down or synthetic insulating materials to provide added warmth particularly suitable for extended periods of outdoor use such as watching outdoors sports events. Other sports jackets are of a vest type that have no sleeves to cover the wearer's arms. Sports jackets cover the torso or upper trunk of the wearer's body and may or may not necessarily include sleeves to cover the wearer's arms.

Outer garments such as the sports jackets are often worn as a display of fashion and individuality of the person wearing such garment. One problem with outer garments is that they provide only one “look” for the wearer, typically being of a solid color, a single decorative pattern, a combination of colors, or a combination of patterns. Outer garments such as shirts or blouses, pants or skirts, and shoes of differing looks including the colors and patterns may be mixed as part of the wearer's outfit to change the overall look thereof. However, the look of the individual garments is typically not changeable.

Various garments have been patented which allow the wearer to change the look of the garment and of the overall outfit. Some such garments are of reversible construction such that turning the garment inside-out provides a different look therefor. Such reversible garments can be worn in two ways to provide two totally different looks. Some such garments display different sports teams as part of their two looks. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,066 issued to Brassey on Apr. 22, 2003 is disclosed a sports jacket of reversible construction for displaying alternate team and/or player affiliations. The team jacket has different teams sports logos on respective inner and outer surfaces thereof. The jacket may also display the names of players so that the jacket may be reversed to reveal a different player's name and/or number.

Other garments have been patented which allow the wearer to change the look of the garment and of the overall outfit by being constructed of separable sections that may be interchanged with mating sections of similarly constructed garments of differing color or pattern. Such garments having separable sections can be worn in a multiplicity of ways depending on how many such garments there are to provide many totally different looks. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,493,531 issued to Fitches on Jan. 3, 1950 is disclosed novelty garments which provide different looks by having interchangeable sections of different colors. The garments include mens' shirts, and ladies' blouses and skirts each comprised of a pair of sections that are detachably retained together and which may be replaced by a corresponding section of another garment of a different color to produce the different look. The shirt is split into the two sections diagonally from a bottom front over one shoulder to a bottom rear. The two sections are removably connected together using a single zipper with mating zipper halves connected to respective of the sections. The zipper is covered by a flap of a snap or non-snap type that extends therealong. The blouse is split into the two sections diagonally from a top front at a neck opening thereof, under one arm close to a bottom edge at a bottom side thereof, and to a top rear at the neck opening. The two sections are removably connected together using a single zipper with mating zipper halves connected to respective of the sections. The zipper is covered by a flap of the snap or non-snap type that extends therealong. Alternatively, the blouse is split into the two sections diagonally from the top front at the neck opening completely to the bottom edge at the bottom side thereof, and diagonally from the top rear at the neck opening completely to the bottom edge at the bottom side thereof. The two sections are removably connected together using a pair of zippers with mating zipper halves connected to respective of the sections. The zippers are covered by respective flaps of the snap or non-snap type that extend therealong. The skirt is split into two sections diagonally in two angled directions from the top left at a waist band thereof diagonally oppositely in the two angled directions to a bottom hem thereof. The two sections are removably connected together using a pair of zippers with mating zipper halves connected to respective of the sections. The zippers are covered by respective flaps of the snap or non-snap type that extend therealong.

Various jackets have been patented over the years that have separable sections or are designed as partial jackets not for allowing the wearer to change the look of the garment, but rather for purely functional purposes such as warm-up jackets for baseball pitchers, jackets with separable sleeves to form sleeveless vests, and arm protectors for persons who frequently reach out of their motor vehicle doing their job such as postal delivery persons. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,075 issued to Svetich on Apr. 13, 1993 is disclosed a separable ventilated athletic jacket for baseball pitchers. The jacket includes a first shell portion for covering one side of the upper torso of a person wearing the jacket. A sleeve is secured to the first shell portion for covering the person's arms. A mesh covers an opposite side of the person's upper torso. A second shell portion is detachably secured to the first shell portion. Another sleeve is attached to the second shell portion. The jacket may be worn and used as a traditional jacket or one shell portion may be detached so that only one arm, shoulder and one side of the person's torso are covered.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,934 issued to Perry on Jan. 22, 1991 is disclosed a sports sleeve to be worn by a sports player. The sleeve covers one arm and a portion of the upper torso of the person wearing the sleeve with straps that retain the sleeve on the person's body. The construction of the garment is such that it does not keep the entire upper half of the torso warm because the garment is cut high on the bottom in front and back and does not include any means for securing the bottom of the garment close to the body. As a result, body heat may escape through draft holes which can lead to excess heat loss, causing stiffness and tightening of the muscles. In turn, this can cause injury, thereby defeating its purpose. Furthermore, because the sports sleeve covers only a portion of the person's body, if the weather turns cold, the individual would need to additionally wear a full conventional jacket over the sleeve. This would restrict movement because of the bulky garments. To alleviate this problem, one would need to take off the sleeve and wear just the full conventional jacket. However, in so doing, the sports sleeve would serve no purpose.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,833 issued to Cox on Oct. 28, 1980 is disclosed a warm-up sleeve to be worn by an athlete. The sleeve includes a portion for covering the arm and the top of the shoulder. A strap is used to retain the sleeve in place. The strap extends around the upper torso. The sleeve does not cover any portion of the torso. The warm-up sleeve allows body heat to escape. This may lead to excess heat loss, causing stiff and tight muscles. This could result in injury, thereby defeating the purpose of the sleeve. The warm-up sleeve also suffers from many of the same problems as the sports sleeve of Perry.

In U.S. Pat. No. 1,796,782 issued to Gasperini on Mar. 17, 1931 is disclosed a garment protector for automobile drivers. The protector includes one sleeve and a strap or fastener for attaching the protector to a coat or around the neck. The protector is used by a driver to protect his or her clothes from getting wet in rainy weather when extending the left arm out of the window to signal turns. This protector would not be useful for warming one arm and shoulder of an athlete. It exhibits many of the disadvantages of the sleeves described by the patents mentioned above and it was not intended for use by athletes.

The sports jackets are often worn that have patches, logos, player names, player numbers, and the like permanently affixed thereto as a display of unity and support of the person wearing the sports jacket for a particular sports team, a particular player, or the like of professional basketball, baseball, and football teams. Often the patches are sewn to respective external shoulder, chest, and back areas of the sports jacket. Usually a different sports jacket is owned and worn for each different sports team or player particularly when attending a sports event of the sports team or player. This can be an expensive proposition since most sports jackets with team or player logos currently cost upwards of seventy-five dollars and are likely to rise in price in coming years. When the wearer moves to a different city which frequently occurs in these days of little job security, one or more new sports jackets may need to be purchased that match the sports team(s) and player(s) of the new city. Sports teams also leave cities and new sports teams enter cities as sports franchises are bought, sold, and moved. Wearers switch team loyalties from year-to-year based on team performance and changing personal preferences. Players are traded to other sports teams or voluntarily switch sports teams particularly with the advent of salary caps and free agency for players.

Various sports jackets have been patented which attempt to allow display of various sports team logos. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,580 issued to Foo on Dec. 8, 1992 is disclosed a jacket with changeable attachments. The jacket has changeable chest, shoulder and back patches that are removable to allow a person to wear one set of patches for one purpose or event, then remove those patches and put on another set of patches for another purpose or event. This permits a manufacturer to produce sets of patches for various purposes or events which may be changed rather than a jacket specifically for each purpose or event to reduce manufacturing costs

While the prior art garments are generally adequate for the purposes for which they were intended, they still have significant shortcomings including: 1) not being designed to display sports logos and multiple interchangeable sports logos; 2) having non-symmetrical sections such as removable sleeves or body sections which do not equally display the desired sports logos; 3) not being easily manufacturable due to the diagonal cuts and non-symmetry of the sections; and 4) requiring removal and storage of relatively small removable sections or patches that are easily lost or misplaced.

There is a need for a sports jacket that solves these shortcomings of the prior art garments by: 1) being designed to display sports logos and multiple interchangeable sports logos to allow sports fans to display sports logos appropriate for the particular sporting event; 2) having symmetrical sections in the form of jacket halves to equally display the desired sports logos; 3) being easily manufacturable due to straight cuts and symmetry of the sections; and 4) not requiring removal and storage of relatively small removable sections or patches that are easily lost or misplaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a split sports jacket for covering an upper torso a person. The jacket includes a body comprised of a pair of mating right and left jacket halves adapted to cover respective right and left halves of the person's upper torso. Respective front and rear closure devices are adapted for retaining the jacket halves mated together covering the person's upper torso. The jacket halves may be interchanged with other mating jacket halves having differing external visual characteristics to change an overall look of the sports jacket.

The body may comprise a split front panel which include respective right and left panel halves and a split rear panel which includes respective right and left panel halves. The front closure device comprises two halves respectively affixed to the right and left panel halves of the split front panel. The rear closure device comprises two halves respectively affixed to the right and left panel halves of the split rear panel.

In a preferred split sports jacket, respective right and left sleeves are provided dependent from the body adapted to receive respective right and left arms of the person. Each sleeve comprises a tubular body which terminates at an elasticized cuff. The right and left jacket halves include respective right and left halves of a split collar affixed to the body around a neck opening thereof. The right and left jacket halves also include respective right and left halves of an elasticized split waist band affixed to the body around a waist opening thereof. One or both of the jacket halves includes a pocket. The closure devices comprise respective front and rear zippers that extend vertically and are laterally centered on the person's upper torso. The front zipper is of upright configuration that zips up from bottom to top. The rear zipper is of inverted configuration that zips up from top to bottom. The body includes respective front and rear flaps adapted to selectively cover the front and rear zippers that are securable thereover by a plurality of spaced connectors. One of the jacket halves has both of said front flap and rear flaps. The connectors each comprise a first connector half affixed to the body and corresponding second connector halves affixed to respective of the flaps which snap-fit thereto. One or both of the jacket halves includes at one or more of the characteristics at a location thereon of right front, left front, right sleeve, left sleeve, right rear or left rear. The affiliations are sports teams, sports players, schools, or religions. The right and left jacket halves differ in the visual characteristics of colors, patterns, patches, logos, indicia, emblems, or combinations thereof.

THE DRAWINGS

The best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a split sports jacket of the present invention as worn by a person, which includes a body having a split collar and split waist band, split front and rear panels, and respective dependent cuffed right and left sleeves, which together comprise respective right and left jacket halves that are removably retained together;

FIG. 2, a rear elevational view of the split sports jacket;

FIG. 3, a front elevational view of the right jacket half which includes respective right halves of the split collar, the split waist band, the split front panel, and the split rear panel, the right sleeve, and first halves of respective front and rear zippers which removably retain the right and left jacket halves together;

FIG. 4, a rear elevational view of the right half;

FIG. 5, a front elevational view of the left jacket half which includes respective left halves of the split collar, the split waist band, the split front panel, and the split rear panel, the left sleeve, and second halves of the front and rear zippers, with respective front and rear flaps snap-fit to respectively cover the front and rear zippers when the right and left jacket halves are zipped together; and

FIG. 6, a rear elevational view of the left half.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, therein is shown a split sports jacket of the present invention, designated generally at 10, for covering an upper torso 11 of a person 12.

The split sports jacket 10 includes a body 14 having a split collar 16 disposed around a neck opening 17 thereof and an elasticized split waist band 18 disposed around a waist opening 19 thereof, both affixed to respective split front and rear panels 20 and 22 of body 14. Respective right and left sleeves 24 and 26 are dependent from body 14 to receive respective right and left arms 27 and 28 of the person 12. The sleeves 24 and 26 include respective tubular bodies 29 and 30 that terminate at respective elasticized cuffs 32 and 34. The body 14 and sleeves 24 and 26 comprise mating right and left jacket halves 36 and 37 that are removably retained together to cover respective right and left halves 38 and 39 of the person's upper torso 11. Respective front and rear closure devices in the form of front and rear zippers 40 and 41 retain the jacket halves 36 and 37 mated together covering the person's upper torso 11. The zippers 40 and 41 extend vertically along and are laterally centered on the person's upper torso 11. The front zipper 40 is of upright configuration that zips up from bottom to top and the rear zipper 41 preferably is of inverted configuration that zips up from top to bottom utilizing gravity to stay closed.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the right jacket half 36 includes a right half 42 of the split collar 16, a right half 43 of the split waist band 18, a right half 44 of the split front panel 20 with a right front logo 45, a right half 46 of the split rear panel 22 with a right rear logo 47, the right sleeve 24 with a right sleeve logo 48, and right halves 49 and 50 of the zippers 40 and 41 which removably retain the right and left jacket halves 36 and 37 together. The right jacket half 36 also includes a pocket 52 in the split front panel 20.

The front zipper 40 includes a right track 56 sewn to the right half 44 of the split front panel 20 extending vertically from the waist band 18 to the neck opening 17 of split sports jacket 10, a movable zipper member 60, a starting guide 62 affixed to the right track 56 at waist band 18 to start the zipping action of zipper member 60, and a stopping member 63 affixed to the right track 56 adjacent collar 16 to stop the zipping action of zipper member 60. The front zipper 40 zips up from bottom to top like a conventional coat. A plurality of first or male halves 64 of respective snap connectors 66 are linearly disposed affixed through the right half 44 of split front panel 20.

The rear zipper 41 includes a right track 68 sewn to the right half 46 of the split rear panel 22 extending vertically from the collar 16 at neck opening 17 through the waist band 18 of split sports jacket 10, a movable zipper member 70, a starting guide 72 affixed to the right track 68 at collar 16, and a stopping member 73 affixed to the right track 68 at waist band 18 to stop the zipping action of zipper member 70. The rear zipper 41 zips up from top to bottom in reverse manner to a conventional coat to utilize gravity to stay zipped. A plurality of the male halves 64 of the snap connectors 66 are linearly disposed affixed through the right half 46 of split rear panel 22.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the left jacket half 37 includes a left half 74 of the split collar 16, a left half 76 of the split waist band 18, a left half 78 of the split front panel 20 with a left front logo 79, a left half 80 of the split rear panel 22 with a left rear logo 81, the left sleeve 26 with a left sleeve logo 82, and left halves 83 and 84 of the zippers 40 and 41. The left jacket half 37 also includes a pocket 85 in the split front panel 20.

The front zipper 40 includes a left track 86 sewn to the left half 78 of the split front panel 20 extending vertically from the waist band 18 to the neck opening 17 of split sports jacket 10, a starting guide 88 affixed to the left track 86 at waist band 18 to start the zipping action of zipper member 60, and a stopping member 90 affixed to the left track 86 adjacent collar 16 to stop the zipping action of zipper member 60. A front flap 92 of left half 78 of split front panel 20 covers the front zipper 40 when the jacket halves 36 and 37 are zipped together. A plurality of second or female halves 94 of the snap connectors 66 are linearly disposed affixed through the front flap 92 of split front panel 20.

The rear zipper 41 includes a left track 96 sewn to the left half 80 of the split rear panel 22 extending vertically from the collar 16 at neck opening 17 through the waist band 18 of split sports jacket 10, a starting guide 98 affixed to the left track 96 at collar 16 to start the zipping action of zipper member 70, and a stopping member 100 affixed to the left track 96 adjacent waist band 18 to stop the zipping action of zipper member 70. A rear flap 102 of the left half 80 of split rear panel 22 covers the rear zipper 41 when the right and left jacket halves 36 and 37 are zipped together. A plurality of the female halves 94 of the snap connectors 66 are linearly disposed affixed through the rear flap 102 of split rear panel 22.

The female halves 94 of snap connectors 66 respectively affixed disposed along the front and rear flaps 92 and 102 snap-fit to corresponding of the male halves 64 of snap connectors 66 respectively disposed along the right halves 44 and 46 of split front and rear panels 20 and 22 to respectively selectively cover the front and rear zippers 40 and 41 when the right and left jacket halves 36 and 37 are zipped together.

The jacket halves 36 and 37 may be aesthetically similar or differ in one or more visual characteristics such as colors, patterns, patches, logos, indicia, emblems, and combinations thereof at a location thereon such as right front, left front, right sleeve, left sleeve, right rear, and left rear. The jacket halves 36 and 37 may differ in the characteristics that are indicative of various affiliations such as sports teams, sports players, schools, and religions. The jacket halves 36 and 37 are designed to be interchanged with other mating jacket halves (not shown) having differing external visual characteristics to change an overall look of the split sports jacket 10.

The split sports jacket 10 may be made of any known construction that is standard in the garment industry, using seams, stitching, liners, and other features that are often found in the manufacture of jackets. Any suitable natural or synthetic materials may be used to suit the particular application such as cotton, polyester, dacron, wool, acrylic, leather, denim, or other suitable materials which is typically cut to shape and stitched together. The cloth materials may be in single layer in similar manner to conventional windbreakers, or may be in double or more thicknesses comprising respective inner and outer layers with natural or synthetic insulation materials disposed therebetween to increase the heat retaining ability of the split sports jacket 10.

The split sports jacket solves the shortcomings of the prior art garments by: 1) having interchangeable jacket halves that may have different sports logos to allow sports fans to display sports logos appropriate for the particular sporting event by zipping together appropriate jacket halves; 2) having symmetrical jacket halves to equally display the desired sports logos; 3) having straight cuts at the zippers rather than diagonal cuts and symmetrical mating jacket halves that are mirror images of each other; and 4) having the sports logos permanently affixed-to the jacket halves and thus not requiring removal and storage of relatively small removable sections or patches that are easily lost or misplaced.

Many variations are possible to the split sports jackets while staying within the same inventive concept. For example, the zippers may be made of metal or plastic materials. The snap connectors may be replaced by other types of conventional fasteners such as hook and loop patches sold under the trade name Velcro™ to retain the flaps. Various types of waterproof and non-waterproof materials may be used in the construction of the sports jackets. Other clothing may be made in the same inventive manner such as pants that are split into pants halves that connect together using a pair of zippers. The jacket halves may have reflective or fluorescent portions.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with reference to embodiments thereof presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out such invention in actual practice, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in adapting the invention to different embodiments without departing from the broader inventive concepts disclosed herein and comprehended by the claims that follow. 

1. A split sports jacket for covering an upper torso of a person, comprising: a body comprised of a pair of mating right and left jacket halves adapted to cover respective right and left halves of the person's upper torso; respective front and rear closure devices adapted for retaining said jacket halves mated together covering the person's upper torso; and wherein said jacket halves may be interchanged with other mating jacket halves having differing external visual characteristics to change an overall look of the sports jacket.
 2. The split sports jacket according to claim 1, wherein the right and left jacket halves include respective right and left sleeves dependent therefrom adapted to receive respective right and left arms of the person.
 3. The split sports jacket according to claim 2, wherein each sleeve comprises a tubular body which terminates at an elasticized cuff.
 4. The split sports jacket according to claim 1, wherein the right and left jacket halves include respective right and left halves of a split collar affixed to the body around a neck opening thereof.
 5. The split sports jacket according to claim 1, wherein the right and left jacket halves include respective right and left halves of an elasticized split waist band affixed to the body around a waist opening thereof.
 6. The split sports jacket according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the jacket halves includes a pocket.
 7. The split sports jacket according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear closure devices extend vertically and are laterally centered on the person's upper torso.
 8. The split sports jacket according to claim 1, wherein the right and left jacket halves differ in at least one of the visual characteristics chosen from the group consisting of colors, patterns, patches, logos, indicia, emblems, and combinations thereof.
 9. The split sports jacket according to claim 8, wherein the right and left jacket halves differ in the characteristics that are indicative of various affiliations.
 10. The split sports jacket according to claim 9, wherein the affiliations are chosen from the group consisting of sports teams, sports players, schools, and religions.
 11. The split sports jacket according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the jacket halves includes at least one of the characteristics at a location thereon chosen from the group consisting of right front, left front, right sleeve, left sleeve, right rear, and left rear.
 12. The split sports jacket according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear closure devices respectively comprise front and rear zippers.
 13. The split sports jacket according to claim 12, wherein the front zipper is of upright configuration that zips up from bottom to top and the rear zipper is of inverted configuration that zips up from top to bottom.
 14. The split sports jacket according to claim 1, wherein the body includes respective front and rear flaps adapted to selectively cover the front and rear closure devices that are securable thereover by a plurality of spaced connectors.
 15. The split sports jacket according to claim 14, wherein one of the jacket halves has both of the front flap and rear flaps.
 16. The split sports jacket according to claim 14, wherein the connectors each comprise a first connector half affixed to the body and corresponding second connector halves affixed to respective of the flaps which snap-fit thereto.
 17. A split sports jacket for covering an upper torso of a person, comprising: a body comprised of a pair of mating right and left jacket halves adapted to cover respective right and left halves of the person's upper torso, and respective right and left sleeves dependent therefrom adapted to receive respective right and left arms of the person; respective front and rear zippers that extend vertically and are laterally centered on the person's upper torso adapted for retaining said jacket halves mated together covering the person's upper torso, said front zipper being of upright configuration that zips up from bottom to top and said rear zipper being of inverted configuration that zips up from top to bottom; and wherein said jacket halves may be interchanged with other mating jacket halves having differing external visual characteristics to change an overall look of the sports jacket, and said right and left jacket halves differ in at least one of the visual characteristics chosen from the group consisting of colors, patterns, patches, logos, indicia, emblems, and combinations thereof.
 18. The split sports jacket according to claim 17, wherein the body includes respective front and rear flaps adapted to selectively cover the front and rear zippers that are securable thereover by a plurality of spaced connectors, one of said jacket halves has both of said front flap and rear flaps, said connectors each comprise a first connector half affixed to the body and corresponding second connector halves affixed to respective of the flaps which snap-fit thereto, at least one of said jacket halves includes at least one of the characteristics at a location thereon chosen from the group consisting of right front, left front, right sleeve, left sleeve, right rear, and left rear, and the affiliations are chosen from- the group consisting of sports teams, sports players, schools, and religions.
 19. The split sports jacket according to claim 18, wherein the right and left jacket halves include respective right and left halves of a split collar affixed to the body around a neck opening thereof and respective right and left halves of an elasticized split waist band affixed to said body around a waist opening thereof, at least one of said jacket halves includes a pocket, and each sleeve comprises a tubular body which terminates at an elasticized cuff.
 20. A split sports jacket for covering an upper torso of a person, comprising: a body comprised of a pair of mating right and left jacket halves adapted to cover respective right and left halves of the person's upper torso, said body including a split front panel which includes respective right and left panel halves and a split rear panel which includes respective right and left panel halves; respective front and rear closure devices adapted for retaining said jacket halves mated together covering the person's upper torso, said front closure device comprising two halves respectively affixed to said right and left panel halves of said split front panel, and said rear closure device comprising two halves respectively affixed to said right and left panel halves of said split rear panel; and wherein said jacket halves may be interchanged with other mating jacket halves having differing external visual characteristics to change an overall look of the sports jacket. 